U.S. patent application number 12/796393 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for battery powered hauling car operated by remote control.
Invention is credited to Thomas Scott Cushman.
Application Number | 20100308639 12/796393 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43085668 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100308639 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cushman; Thomas Scott |
December 9, 2010 |
Battery Powered Hauling Car Operated by Remote Control
Abstract
A hauling system and hauling car for hauling mined materials
includes a body defining a storage area for receiving the mined
materials, a conveyor positioned in a bottom portion of the storage
area, and a motor coupled with the conveyor and driving the
conveyor. The motor is controllably operable via a remote control
system, and the body includes at least one connector connectable to
a winch system that controllably advances and retrieves the hauling
car. The use of a winch system for advancing and retrieving the
hauling car provides for increased volumetric capacity.
Additionally, the structure enables transport of evenly distributed
loads and more efficient dumping.
Inventors: |
Cushman; Thomas Scott;
(Beckley, WV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
901 NORTH GLEBE ROAD, 11TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Family ID: |
43085668 |
Appl. No.: |
12/796393 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61213432 |
Jun 8, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
299/18 ;
414/507 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21F 13/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
299/18 ;
414/507 |
International
Class: |
B60P 1/00 20060101
B60P001/00; E21C 35/20 20060101 E21C035/20; E21C 35/00 20060101
E21C035/00 |
Claims
1. A hauling system for hauling mined materials, the hauling system
comprising: a hauling car including: a body defining a storage area
for receiving the mined materials, a conveyor positioned in a
bottom portion of the storage area, and a motor coupled with the
conveyor and driving the conveyor; a control system remotely
communicating with the motor, the control system enabling remote
selective operation of the motor; and a winch system coupled with
the hauling car, the winch system controllably advancing and
retrieving the hauling car.
2. A hauling system according to claim 1, wherein the hauling car
comprises a control box including onboard controls for operation of
the hauling car and including communication structure that receives
signals from the remote control system.
3. A hauling system according to claim 1, further comprising at
least one supplemental conveyor positioned in a sidewall of the
storage area.
4. A hauling system according to claim 1, further comprising
batteries positioned on the hauling car, the batteries providing
electric power to the motor.
5. A hauling system according to claim 1, further comprising a
connection to a power line integrated with the winch system, the
power line providing electric power to the motor.
6. A hauling system according to claim 1, further comprising skid
rails on which the hauling car is supported for movement.
7. A hauling system according to claim 1, further comprising a
camera positioned in view of the storage area, the camera supplying
images of a payload in the storage area.
8. A hauling system according to claim 1, wherein the hauling car
comprises at least one connector coupleable to the winch
system.
9. A hauling system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one
connector comprises at least one of hooks, loops, holes,
quick-release couplings, and fasteners.
10. A hauling system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one
connector is disposed at one of a front end of the hauling car, a
rear end of the hauling car, and sides of the hauling car.
11. A hauling car for hauling mined materials, the hauling car
comprising: a body defining a storage area for receiving the mined
materials; a conveyor positioned in a bottom portion of the storage
area; a motor coupled with the conveyor and driving the conveyor;
and at least one battery secured to the body and providing electric
power to the motor, wherein the motor is controllably operable via
a remote control system, and wherein the body includes at least one
connector connectable to a winch system that controllably advances
and retrieves the hauling car.
12. A method of hauling mined materials using a hauling car, the
hauling car including a body defining a storage area for receiving
the mined materials, a conveyor positioned in a bottom portion of
the storage area, and a motor coupled with the conveyor and driving
the conveyor, the method comprising: (a) advancing the hauling car
to a position adjacent a miner to receive the mined materials from
the miner; (b) receiving the mined materials from the miner at a
receiving end of the hauling car; (c) controlling the motor to
drive the conveyor and distribute the mined materials in the
storage area; and (d) retrieving the hauling car via a winch system
and controlling the motor to drive the conveyor and dump the mined
materials from the storage area.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/213,432, filed Jun. 8, 2009, the
entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (NOT APPLICABLE)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for
transporting mined material from the point of mining to a point of
discharge. The following patent and patent applications are hereby
incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,951,801, 6,926,368 and
6,109,699 to Mraz, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2004/0134694 to Allen et al. and U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2004/0251732 to Lowery.
[0004] High wall mining is generally a method of mining whereby a
remote controlled continuous miner is sent into a face of coal, or
other ore, from an outside bench to mine or cut such ore out from
under the overburden above. The continuous miner will generally cut
out the ore in widths ranging from 6 to 14 feet and up to 20 feet
in height, depending on the size of the miner used. As the miner is
remotely controlled from the outside into the ore, units for
transferring the mined ore, called "cars" or "beams" are
sequentially sent into the mine. Such cars may be advanced via a
self-propelled mechanism, hydraulic driving system, or a winch
system.
[0005] Cars typically have either a fixed payload area or a payload
area that is lined with a conveyor unit. A fixed payload area
results in a car that is not loaded to maximum capacity because the
mined material builds up beneath a discharge boom of the continuous
miner. The conveyor unit enables the payload area to handle a large
capacity and an evenly distributed load. Current cars are manually
operated and must be completely removed from a mine to dump its
payload. In dumping its payload, cars typically utilize a hydraulic
system that will raise the car so as to dump its payload.
Alternatively, a car may be incorporated into an extraneous machine
that will dump the car's payload.
[0006] The above mentioned methods for dumping require a car to be
removed from the mine where it may be subjected to the outside
environment. While exposed to the outside environment, the car and
its associated devices are more susceptible to maintenance issues
caused by cold or wet weather.
[0007] Another issue with current cars is that self propelled cars
have a reduced volumetric capacity when compared to non-self
propelled cars. The drive mechanisms in self-propelled cars take up
precious cargo space.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the above shortfalls, it would be advantageous to
provide a capability by which a car could be advanced and retrieved
utilizing a winch system so that the car has an increased
volumetric capacity, transports an evenly distributed load and
dumps its payload independent of other devices whether located
inside or outside the mines.
[0009] There is a need to develop an apparatus and method to allow
for the hauling of mined material and the dumping of that mined
material remotely such that the car is not required to be lifted by
an onboard or off board hydraulic system to dump its payload. This
need is based on improving the reliability of mining systems as
well as improving the safety of mining operators.
[0010] It is desirable to have a mechanism for observing the status
of the car while the car is in the mine. It is further desirable to
develop a car that is movable on a flat bottom, wheels, skids,
crawler tracks, or the like. Any wheels, skids, or crawler tracks
may be made of a same material as that of the car or an alternative
material such as a metals, polymers or woods. In various exemplary
embodiments, the apparatus and method according to this disclosure
may provide a capability by which a mining car may be advanced and
retrieved into and out of a mine via a winch system. The car may
have a plurality of connectors for connecting the car to the winch
system such as hooks, loops, holes, quick-release permanent
fasteners and the like. The connectors may be positioned at a front
end of the car or at many locations to afford easy access or better
maneuverability of the car inside the mine. The mining car may also
incorporate a conveyor system that may have a single or a dual
conveyor motor for driving the system. The conveyor system may
receive its power from an onboard battery, plurality of batteries,
or a direct connection to an alternative power source. The conveyor
may only be actuated upon demand by an activation command from a
control unit.
[0011] For receiving the activation command, the car may have an
onboard receiver that receives a signal from a remote unit that is
detached from the car, or the car may have an onboard set of
controls for instructing the activation command. The car may also
have a sensor such as a camera, scale or other measurement device
for determining the status of the car's payload such that the car
may remotely communicate this status to a detached receiving unit
so that the car may be retrieved by the winch system upon demand.
An objective is to make the car dump its payload upon reaching its
destination by remote actuation so that the car does not have to be
raised by a hydraulic system or other means, such as incorporation
to an external machine, to dump its payload.
[0012] These and other features and advantages of the disclosed
apparatus and method, are described in, or apparent from, the
following detailed description of the various exemplary
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and
method for hauling mined material will be described, in detail,
with reference to the following drawings wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a typical hauling car;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the battery powered hauling
car;
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the battery powered
hauling car; and
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the battery powered
hauling car.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The following embodiments illustrate examples of various
apparatuses and methods for hauling of mined material and the
dumping of that mined material remotely such that a hauling car is
not required to be acted upon by a hydraulic mechanism to dump its
payload. It should be appreciated that, although the apparatuses
and methods according to this disclosure may be applicable to such
a specific application, the depictions and/or descriptions included
in this disclosure are not intended to be limited to any specific
application. Any apparatus and/or method for hauling mined material
that may advantageously apply the apparatus and method described in
exemplary manner in this disclosure are contemplated.
[0019] Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure may provide
apparatuses and methods for hauling and dumping mined material.
Examples of hauling means may be that of a hauling car, that may be
advanced and retrieved from a mine using a winch system. This
disclosure also contemplates remotely controlling the car using an
off board control device and powering the car using onboard
batteries. The car may, however, be powered through other means
such as, for example, a connection to a power line integrated with
the winch system.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical coal car 10. The coal car 10
has a body 13 and a storage area 11. The coal car 10 is connected
to a winch system 16 via a connector 14. The coal car 10 is
positioned near a discharge boom 18 of a continuous miner 20 so
that mined material may be dumped into storage area 11 from the
discharge boom 18. The coal car 10 is moved on skids 12.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a battery operated hauling car 20. The
car 20 has a body 25 that may be made of metals, woods, various
polymers or any combination thereof. The car 20 has a storage area
27 that has a conveyor 23 at its base. The conveyor 23 allows for
the bed of the storage area to move such that mined material loaded
from a discharge boom may be evenly distributed and the usable
capacity of the car 20 may be increased for each use. The conveyor
23 is driven by an electric motor 29 that is powered by onboard
batteries 28. The batteries are actuated on demand from an
electronic control box 21 that has onboard controls and also
communicates with an off board remote control device. The car 20 is
advanced and retrieved by a winch system 26 that is connected to
the car 20 via a connector 24. Although various known winch systems
may be used, one suitable winch system is disclosed in the
above-referenced U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2004/0251732 to Lowery. When the car 20 is retrieved from the mine
by the winch system 26, the car may stay inside the mine and may be
unloaded either locally or remotely by activating the conveyor 23
to dump the mined material that is loaded from the discharge boom.
However, the coal car would typically be removed from the mine for
dumping. The storage area 27 may also have alternative conveyors
positioned on the sidewalls of the storage area to further aid in
distributing and dumping the mined material.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a car 30 having a body 37
that is moved on skid rails 39. The car 30 is connected to a winch
system 36 for advancing and retrieving the car 30 by a connector
34. The car 30 has a conveyor 33 at the bottom of its storage area
that is powered by onboard batteries 38. The conveyor 33 is
actuated on demand by a command sent from the control box 32 that
receives a signal via antenna 35. The car also has a camera 31 that
communicates with the control box 32 such that a status of the
car's payload may be observed.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a car 41 having a body
42, a battery storage area 44, a payload storage area 48, a
conveyor 46 and skids 40. It should be appreciated that the skids
may be replaced with wheels, crawler tracks, or the like, for
moving the car. The car may also be movable on a flat or curved
bottom. It should further be appreciated that the payload area may
handle loads in excess of 20,000 lbs. However, the car may be
modified for payload requirements of less than 20,000 lbs.
[0024] A method of using the car may be in a manner that the car is
connected to a plurality of cars such that the cars may travel in
series as a train. The cars may be detachable from one another so
that a particular car may stay at the discharge boom while the
other cars are unloaded.
[0025] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *